Activity Connection Plans™
Statewide, Idaho
Idaho Department of Health & Welfare

Katie Lamansky, CHES
[email protected]
(208) 334-4951

One of the primary objectives of the public health sector over the past 10 years or more has been the goal of getting more Americans to be physically active. Sedentary lifestyles are deadly and result in the onset of numerous chronic diseases. However, in order for physical activity rates to climb, participating in by walking or bicycling has to be made easier. To this end a new type of thinking and planning model is needed and has been in place in Idaho for the past five years. The model and the health and transportation relationship can be conveyed by asking a simple question: can a person walk from their home to a nearby park? Often, too many people in our cities are unable to carry out such a simple exercise for a myriad of reasons thus preventing residents from attaining the physical activity needed for a healthy lifestyle. In recognizing that most of our walking or biking trips are taken for recreational purposes, Vitruvian Planning created this planning model that aims to improve public health by combining elements of a bicycle and pedestrian plan with those of a parks and recreation plan. This hybrid called an, Activity Connection Plan™, focuses on improving community activity assets where citizens recreate and the adjacent streets that access such sites. The result of the planning effort includes a series of recommendations aimed a community’s recreation sites and the nearby connecting streets. If recommendations are followed, the sites and the streets will attract more users by making both more appealing. These short to midterm recommendations are intended to give more variety to a greater spectrum of users, offer passive and active uses, to positively impact all elements of health and wellness, and to reduce vehicle trips by increasing walking and bicycling participation rates. To date, nearly two dozen communities have received an Activity Connection Plan® in Idaho and North Carolina, most of which have been funded by health departments or districts who are using the documents to fund projects and launch programs.


Bicycle & Pedestrian Plans

Active Transportation Technical Support

GENERAL/COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

ADA COMPLIANCE (American Disabilities Act)                          click here to learn more

ACTIVITY CONNECTION PLANS

STRATEGIC PLANNING

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